Yasmine Lahdab

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International Student Finds New Home at SCC

Yasmine Lahdab left her native France at the age of 17 to seek out the American dream in California. What she didn’t anticipate was the crushing loneliness and culture shock that many foreign students experience upon their arrival. Lahdab, one of more than a million international students who studied in the United States last year, has a story brimming with success and promise.

Upon arriving at the Santiago Canyon College (SCC) campus in 2016, Lahdab didn’t know anyone, so she gravitated to a meeting of the International Students Club, comprised of students from around the globe who network with the entire student body to promote a culturally diverse campus experience. There she volunteered to become the club representative on the Inter-Club Council, which proved to be a pivotal transition for her.

"The council president was so considerate and impressive, and I wanted to be like that. That first meeting really lit a fire and inspired me, I felt that nothing could stop me. I went on to become an ASG senator by the end of my first year, then ran a campaign and was elected by the student body to serve as the vice president," said Lahdab. "SCC has become my home, and the friends, classmates, and professors I have met have become my family," she added.

Her newly found political skills might apply to Lahdab’s future goal of transferring to UC Berkeley to study international relations, and then onto law school to study criminal law.

Lahdab also credits the International Student Office at SCC as another primary avenue of support where she can drop in to have coffee and meet other members of the International Club in a casual environment.

"Most of us are alone when we arrive on campus. Now I feel like I know a lot of people in the college community and its so much easier," said Lahdab.